Energy costs are rising globally, with businesses and households experiencing huge increases in their monthly energy bills, while at the same time, there are growing concerns about global warming and the environment. We are all under pressure to reduce energy consumption and therefore energy management is becoming a very important part of the FM remit.
Nader Jumah, IFM & MEP regional manager with Initial Saudi Group, explains what energy management means for businesses today and takes a look at the basic steps to develop an energy management plan.
At the basic level, energy management essentially involves developing strategies that reduce energy consumption without impacting operational performance or a building’s internal environment. Although large corporations will often have dedicated energy management teams, for smaller businesses and facilities, there are five relatively easy steps to follow in order to create your energy management plan.
Step 1: Measure, monitor & collect data
The first step is to know how much energy you are actually consuming and the most basic data you can collect is through regular manual meter readings. However, it is worth considering installing automated interval-metering systems that give far clearer insights into energy spikes and where the energy is actually being used, together with other useful information. Step 1 will give you a baseline from which to measure progress.
Step 2: Identify opportunities
As well as your baseline data, step 1 will also help to identify key areas where you can reduce consumption. In addition, simply observing how and when the building is used, and engaging with key stakeholders, will also help to identify and quantify further opportunities for savings.
The HVAC system is going to be top of the energy consumption list for a building and will represent a key area for energy savings. Many of the older systems are extremely wasteful and, for those who can upgrade to a modern solution such as a Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system, the potential savings are huge. However, even without replacing the entire system, savings can be made by updating or reconfiguring the control systems, while regular maintenance schedules will have significant impact on performance and energy use.
Other energy savings in a normal commercial setting can often be made through behavioural change. Things like ‘Switch It Off’ signs and regular reminders about switching off lights and equipment at the end of the day, can make a big difference. Completing Step 2 will enable you to compile a prioritised list of opportunities, covering everything from new equipment and upgrades, to systems updates and behavioural changes.
Step 3: Implement solutions & set targets
Once you have completed Step 2, you need to develop and implement a plan that creates initiatives and projects around the most valuable and achievable of the identified opportunities. Key components of the plan will include behavioural awareness, education and motivation programmes, together with business case and project plans for any capital equipment or upgrades. You will also need to set targets around each initiative. Your targets should be realistic and with a plan in place to manage expectations across the whole business.
Step 4: Measure, track & report
Continue to measure and collect data and use it to produce objective progress reports that show how the initiatives are impacting energy consumption, and how they are performing against targets. Translate the savings into both money and tonnes of CO2 to produce energy updates that help to keep people motivated and engaged.
Step 5: Revise the plan
Like all continuous improvement plans, you will need to revise your energy management plan at regular intervals. Importantly, once you have identified all the ‘easy wins’ you will need to look at more sophisticated ways of both measuring and analysing the data in order to find your next phase of energy saving initiatives.